Bihar Cracks Down on Private Schools: Fee Hikes, Forced Uniform Sales Under Scanner

In a major move aimed at increasing transparency and reducing financial pressure on families, the government of Bihar has introduced strict regulations for private schools regarding fee structures, uniforms, books, and stationery sales.

Announcing the decision on social media platform X, Samrat Choudhary said the reforms are designed to ensure accountability in private educational institutions and protect the interests of students and parents.

Under the new rules, all private schools in Bihar will now be required to publicly display complete details of their fee structures, including tuition, annual, and transport charges. The government said the step is intended to curb arbitrary fee hikes, after repeated complaints from parents that some schools were increasing fees by nearly 10 per cent every year without clear justification.

Officials have also been instructed to closely monitor private educational institutions to ensure compliance with the guidelines. The Bihar government warned that any violation of the directives could invite strict administrative action.

In another significant relief for parents, schools will no longer be permitted to compel families to purchase books, uniforms, or stationery from specific vendors or authorised shops. Parents can now buy these materials from any store of their choice, ending a long-standing practice that often increased educational expenses.

The government said the measure would help reduce unnecessary financial burdens on families, particularly those who were forced to purchase costly school materials through campus-linked sellers.

The reforms also include provisions aimed at protecting students from punitive action over unpaid fees. Schools will not be allowed to stop students from appearing in examinations or withhold results solely because of pending fee payments, according to the new directives.

The Bihar government described the reforms as a step toward creating a more transparent, student-friendly, and accountable education system across the state.